Eldrick Tont ‘Tiger’ Woods - The Express Tribune The Express Tribune Share Tweet Email His recognition as one of the greatest golfers of all time can be seen by the 11 PGA Player of the Year awards and nine Vardon Trophy honours to his name. PHOTO: AFP/FILE “I play for myself and my family. That’s it. That’s what my father always said to me and that’s what I’ve always done.” He was six months old when he started imitating his father’s swing and just two when he appeared on the Bob Hope show to display his already considerable golfing skills. Born Eldrick Tont Woods, he was nicknamed Tiger by his old man Earl, a Vietnam War veteran, after a Vietnamese soldier friend of his. A true sporting phenomenon and one of the most recognisable faces in the world, Tiger Woods left his mark at an early age to change the golfing landscape. His interest did not wane as time passed by. By the age of six, he was able to reach the greens from the tees, while even making a couple of holes-in-one.

The most successful amateur golfer in the history of the sport, it was in 1982 at the World 10-and-Under Championship that Woods won his first competition, outshooting boys three and four years older than him. In 1987, he entered as many as two dozen youth tournaments, winning them all. In 1989, Woods participated in his first major tournament Big I, and then went on to become the US Junior Amateur champion at the age of 15. He was the youngest person to achieve the feat, till Jim Liu broke his record in 2010. However, the American is the only one to have won it three consecutive times on the last hole (1991-1993). Woods was always being readied up for something else under the shadow of his parents’ constant support and guidance. “We’ve been training Tiger to take his place in society since he was born,” Earl had said. However, he was just getting started.

It was during his adolescent years that he became obsessed with Jack Nicklaus, whilst going on to win two back-to-back USGA Junior Championships (1991-1992) and the 1994 US Amateur Championship, a victory which helped Woods qualify for the 1995 Masters, the mother of all American golf tournaments. In 1996, he turned pro and immediately signed endorsement deals worth $40 million from Nike and $20 million from Titleist. Woods may have lost the man who moulded his brilliant mind by drilling it on the mental game as early as the age of four, but the child prodigy has never stopped trying to make Earl proud. It went hand-in-glove when just two months after his father passed away, Woods paid tribute to him by achieving a career high at the 135th British Open Championship in July 2006 by ‘thinking his way around the golf course’. Woods was ruthless as ever at the Royal Liverpool. For all but a single swing at the 16th hole of the opening round, Woods disregarded his preferred driver.

Instead, he utilised 3-woods and 2-irons off the tee, which resulted in greater accuracy. However, when Chris DiMarco miraculously holed a 50-foot par putt on the 14th hole to reduce Wood’s three-stroke lead to one, Woods went into terminator mode. The American stayed calm against a charging opponent and a gallery-full of distracting clickers, just the way Earl had taught his son, and birdied the next three holes to finish 18-under 270, just a stroke off his own Open record total. He hit almost 86% of all fairways, leading to three eagles, 19 birdies, 43 pars and only seven bogeys for the week. The only thing that caught him in the end was his memory of Earl. In a mixture of sorrow and gratification, Woods screamed out ‘Yes!’ after winning his 11th major championship, and buried his head in the shoulder of his caddie Steve Williams, sobbing uncontrollably and then going into the arms of his wife Elin; winning without his father and his trusted driver. “He would have been very proud, very proud,” he said.

“He was always on my case about thinking my way around the golf course and not letting emotions get the better of you, because it’s so very easy to do in this sport. He was very adamant that I play like that my entire career.” Woods has been inextricably linked with Nicklaus, ‘The Golden Bear’, setting his game around one main aim: overcoming the great golfer’s record of 18 majors, as he came in second with his 14. Nicklaus once said Woods has everything it takes to beat his golf record. However, as the competition continues to improve and his back problems plague him, the chances have greatly diminished. He may never reach his goal but the world number one has accolades worthy of a lifetime. His 12-stroke winning margin at the Masters made Woods a global sensation at the age of 21. He shelved up three more ‘Major’ tournaments in 2000, and soon held all four Majors at the same time, an achievement that became known as the ‘Tiger Slam’. Woods is among the five players to have reached the milestone.

He has also won 79 official PGA Tour events, second only to Sam Snead, and six ahead of Nicklaus with 73 wins, and his scoring average in 2000 is the lowest in PGA Tour history. His recognition as one of the greatest golfers of all time can be seen by the 11 PGA Player of the Year awards and nine Vardon Trophy honours to his name. Moreover, Woods holds the record for the most consecutive weeks at number one (281, from June 12, 2005 to October 30, 2010), as well as the highest amount of time spent at number one; a total of 682 weeks. It is his ruthless will to continue to improve that has made Woods the man he is today. “The greatest thing about tomorrow is, I will be better than I am today. And that’s how I look at my life. I will be a better golfer, I will be a better person, I will be a better father, I will be a better husband, I will be a better friend. That’s the beauty of tomorrow.” Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook , follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation. Eldrick Tont Woods - Genealogy Genealogy Join the world's largest family tree Gender Share your family tree and photos with the people you know and love Build your family tree online Share photos and videos Half brother of <private> Woods; <private> Woods; <private> Woods and <private> Woods Occupation: Dec 30 1975 - Cypress, California Parents: Earl Dennison Woods, Kultida Woods Siblings: <Private> Woods, <Private> Woods, <Private> Woods Wife: Elin Maria Pernilla Woods (born Nordegren) Children: Dec 30 1975 - Los Angeles, California, USA Mother's maiden name: half sibling About Tiger Woods American golfer Tiger Woods is the youngest man ever, and the first man of color, to win the Masters Tournament of golf. Born Eldrick Tont Woods in Cypress, California. He is the only child of Earl and Kultida Woods. The only child of Earl Woods, a retired US Army lieutenant colonel who fought in Vietnam, and his wife Kutilda, a native of Thailand.

He was nicknamed Tiger after his father’s friend, Vuong Dang Phong, a Vietnamese soldier whom Earl had also called Tiger. His parents identified their son's talent at an unusually early age. They said that he was playing with a putter before he could walk. The boy was gifted not only with exceptional playing abilities, but he also possessed a passion for the sport. Woods first gained national attention on a talk show when he beat the famed comedian and avid golfer Bob Hope (1903–) in a putting contest. The young boy was only three at the time, and he was quickly hailed as a prodigy, or a child with remarkable talent. Not long after that, when he was five years old, Woods was featured on the popular television show That's Incredible! He was eight when he won the 1884 Junior World Golf Championships, having to enter the 9-10 boys’ event as it was the youngest group available. He went on to win the Optimist International Junior tournament six times, at ages 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 15. To this day, he is the event’s youngest ever player and the only multiple winner.

Suffering with a bad stutter as a boy, his intense desire to win helped him overcome it, largely by talking to the eternally patient family dog but also trying extra hard at school. He attended Western High School in Anaheim, California. At age 16, Woods entered his first professional tournament, the 1992 Nissan Los Angeles Open and in 1993, he played in three PGA Tour events. In 1994 he tied for 34th place in the Johnnie Walker Asian Classic in Thailand and participated in three more PGA Tour events before starting at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. Also in 1994, he won the Western Amateur and represented the US in the World Amateur Golf Team Championships in France, becoming the youngest person ever to win the event. He won the 1995 Walker Cup Match in Wales. As an amateur golfer, Woods achieved an impressive amount, winning six USGA national championships as well as the NCAA title.

He was the 1991 and 1992 Golf Digest Player of the Year, 1994 Golfweek National Amateur of the Year and chosen for the Fred Haskins and Jack Nicklaus College Player of the Year awards in 1996. The final flourish in his amateur career was to win his third consecutive US Amateur title, ending with a record 18 consecutive match-play victories. No one before Woods had won the US Junior Amateur more than once and he was the youngest ever to win it, at age 15 in 1991. He was also the youngest player ever to win the US Amateur title, at age 18 in 1994. With all his golfing talent, Woods decided to leave college after being there two years, in order to enter the sport professionally. On 27 August 1996, he became a professional golfer at the age of 20, under the guidance of coach Butch Harmon, and was soon to prove to the world that he was somewhat of a golfing prodigy.

In order for Woods to earn a player’s card for the PGA Tour, there were only seven events left in 1996 in which he could prove himself. His first tournament as a professional golfer was the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open in which he tied for 60th place, winning $2,544, his first cheque as a professional player. Woods remains justifiably proud of winning two of the remaining 1996 tournaments, as well as being placed in the top 30 money winners qualifying for the Tour Championship and finishing overall in 25th place. He had more than earned his professional player’s card. Woods was selected as Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1996, an honour that he would again enjoy in 2000, making him the first person to win it more than once. He was also named 1996 PGA Rookie of the Year.

On 15 June 1997, at age 21 years, 24 weeks, he won the season-opening Mercedes Championships with a birdie in a playoff with Tom Lehman, making him the youngest ever number one golfer, taking the title from Bernhard Langer who was youngest in 1986 at age 29 years, 31 weeks. Winning The Masters by a record margin of twelve strokes, he then became the youngest Masters winner at age 21 years, three months and 14 days. To this day, it is the winning of The Masters that is his proudest moment. He also became the first major championship winner of African or Asian heritage. Woods went on to win four PGA Tour events in 1997, as well as one overseas. He gained the 1997 Arnold Palmer Award when he became the leading money winner, with a then-record £2,066,833 and a worldwide earning of £2,440,831 over 25 events.

In 1997, Woods achieved the most rapid progression ever to number one position on the Official World Golf Rankings and he later remained in Rankings top position for a record 264 consecutive weeks, from 15 August 1999 to 29 August 2004. The Associated Press named Woods Male Athlete of the Year in 1997 and again in 1999 and 2000, making him the only athlete besides Michael Jordan to win the award three times. He was 1997 ESPY Male Athlete of the Year, in a tie with Ken Griffey Jr., and again in 1999 and 2000. He was selected Player of the Year in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 by the PGA Tour, winning the Jack Nicklaus Award, the PGA of America and the Golf Writers Association of America. Woods beat South African Ernie Els in the 1998 Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand in a dramatic playoff.

He had been eleven strokes behind Els after two rounds and clinched his victory with a birdie on the second playoff hole. 1999 was his third full season as a professional, and Woods was showing everyone just how talented he was. He had eight wins on the PGA Tour, including the PGA Championship and earned £6,616,585 which was a full £2,974,679 more than second place David Duval. In fact, he won 52 percent of the possible prize money, which was nearly 82 percent more than the runner-up. Woods achieved another record by being the first player since Johnny Miller in 1974 to have eight PGA Tour victories in one year. Ending 1999 with a flourish, he won four consecutive PGA Tour events and then had two more, making a total of six successive wins. In 1999 and 2000, he was named World Sportsman of the Year, as voted by the founding members of the World Sports Academy for the Laureus Sports Awards.

In 2000, he was chosen as the World Champion of Champions by L’Equipe in France and Reuters selected him as Sportsman of the Year. Whilst the accolades were rolling in, Woods continued to concentrate on improving his game and it showed. His adjusted scoring average for 2000 was 67.79 strokes, which was the lowest ever achieved and which broke his own record of 68.43 in 1999. For this performance, Woods won the Bryon Nelson Award on the PGA Tour as well as the Vardon Trophy from the PGA of America. His actual scoring average in 2000 was 68.17 strokes, which broke Nelson’s 1945 record of 68.33 strokes. Winning his first British Open Championships in 2000, he became the youngest to complete the career Grand Slam of professional major championships and the fifth ever to do so. The previous four golfers were Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus.

With his second Masters victory in 2001, Woods became the first ever to hold all four professional major championships at the same time, a feat dubbed the “Tiger Slam”. He went on to win The Masters Tournaments in 2001, 2002 and 2005. He won the 1999, 2000 and 2006 PGA Championships and the 2000 and 2002 US Open Championships. He became the first since Denny Shute in 1936-7 to win the PGA championship in consecutive years. Woods also won the 2005 and 2006 British Open Championships. In 2000, he won no less than eleven tournaments (nine on PGA Tour, one on PGA European Tour and the PGA Grand Slam) as well as winning the World Cup team title for the United States, with David Duval. His nine PGA Tour victories were the fifth highest total ever and were the most since Sam Snead’s eleven wins in 1950. In 2001, he had five wins on the PGA Tour and eight wins worldwide.

In 2002, five wins on the PGA Tour and seven wins worldwide, making him the PGA Tour’s leading money winner for the fourth consecutive year with £6,912,625 and £8,417,188 worldwide. He holds the record for the lowest score in relation to par, in each of the four major championships. His records are 270 (18 under par) in the Masters, 272 (12 under par) in the US Open, 269 (19 under par) in the British Open, and 270 (18 under par) in the 2000 PGA Championship, a record he shares with Bob May. With everything going brilliantly in his career, the 28-year-old golf superstar’s personal life was also taking an upturn. In November 2003, Woods and his Swedish model girlfriend, Elin Nordegren, were engaged. They were married on 5 October 2004 and took a honeymoon cruise on their boat to Puerto Rico. The couple live in Orlando, Florida but also have homes in Wyoming, Jackson, California and Sweden.

In March 2004, Woods began being coached by Hank Haney and that year, was named the highest earning US sportsman, with a total of $89.4 million in winnings and endorsements. Since his 21st birthday, Woods has signed several endorsement deals, including American Express, General Motors, General Mills, Accenture and Nike. His five-year, £100 million contract with Nike was, at the time, the largest endorsement deal ever signed by an athlete. He also endorses the ‘Tiger Woods PGA Tour’ video game series and collaborated with Tag Heuer in developing the world’s first professional golf watch, released in April 2005. In early January 2006, in celebration of his 30th birthday (30 December 2005), Woods bought a luxury estate on Jupiter Island, Florida. Once again breaking records, the $40 million he paid was the highest sale price for property in what has been dubbed the ‘Most Expensive ZIP Code’. He and Elin plan to make it their primary residence once renovations to the house are complete. Sadly, the high that Woods was experiencing would soon all come crashing down.

He was devastated when Earl Woods, his 74-year-old father, died on 3 May 2006 after his long battle against prostate cancer. Woods had lost one of his most important mentors and a father he had always dearly loved. He took nine weeks out from golfing in order to be with his family. When he returned for the 2006 US Open, it was evident that his heart wasn’t entirely in his game and for the first time in his professional career, he failed to qualify for the weekend at a major. With his steely core of determination and perhaps remembering his father’s words to him as a young man, “I promise you one thing: you’ll never meet another person as tough as you”, Woods bounced back with an improved game. He won the British Open with 18 under par and was quite emotional when he dedicated his victory to the memory of his father. A few weeks later, he won the PGA Championship with another 18 below par and with only three bogeys, he tied for fewest bogeys in a major. Feeling strongly about the parental support he had enjoyed, Woods wanted to share that with the community.

In February 2006, he opened the first ‘Tiger Woods Learning Center’ in Anaheim, California, not far from where he grew up. He put in over $5 million for the foundation that aims to provide children aged 10 to 18 with mentoring and guidance. After consultation with the children of the community to find out what they wanted to see on the curriculum, the foundation offers courses such as computers, creative writing and rocketry. Also planned are summer programs, weekend and community outreach programs. The extensive multi-media facilities will allow the opportunity for online learning and the centre has an outdoor area for teaching golf. Claiming this project was closer to his heart than golf, Woods plans to open more centers of this kind around the world. Woods arranges an annual fund raising concert called ‘Tiger Jam’ and donates his winnings from the annual off-season charity golf tournament, the Target World Challenge, to his foundation. His Tiger Woods Foundation National Junior Golf Team has eighteen members and competes in the annual Junior World Golf Championships. The Tavistock Group, which includes Woods and Ernie Els, recently bought an estate in New Providence in the Bahamas, with plans to develop an exclusive residential community there.

Prior to the modernization of the secluded Albany House, it was used as the location for the filming of several scenes in the latest Bond movie. ‘Casino Royale’ was the first Ian Fleming James Bond novel and the film is scheduled for release on 17 November 2006 with Daniel Craig as Bond. Believing it necessary to support children, especially those disadvantaged in any way, Woods has been involved in youth projects and charities since he and father, Earl, established The Tiger Woods Foundation in 1996. The projects include golf clinics that culminate in a community festival, a grant program, university scholarships and the ‘Start Something’ character development program, which by 2003 had more than a million participants. Somewhat of a child prodigy, his drive, skill and determination to pursue his dream, along with the unfailing support he received from his parents, have made Woods the phenomenal sportsman and thoroughly likeable man he is today. In the words of his late father, Earl Woods, “He doesn't need a challenge, I think that is the worst misconception going: That the number-one golfer needs a number-two golfer to push him.

Tiger is pushed by history and by records and by his own goals. He doesn't need anybody pushing him.” Having just experienced the birth of his first child, Sam Alexis Woods, there certainly seems to be no stopping this affable golfing juggernaut with a great sense of humor, who, in his early thirties, is still riding the crest of the wave as a mature and smart man. Woods and his wife announced September 2, 2008, that they were expecting their second child in late winter. "Elin is feeling great and we are both thrilled," Woods said on his Web site. "While my injury has been disappointing and frustrating, it has allowed me to spend a lot of time watching Sam grow. I can't begin to tell you how rewarding it is being a dad and spending time with her and Elin." The couple welcomed baby boy Charlie Axel Woods on February 8, 2009. Several weeks later, on February 25, 2009, Woods returned to the green in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, Arizona. Woods played against South African golfer Tim Clark, losing 4 to 2 in his first tournament since his injury.

In June of 2009, Woods competed again in the U.S. Open. After putting a four-over-par in the first round, Woods quickly fell out of contention for the win. Although Woods' comeback had not been as auspicious as he'd hoped, he remained No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings, and continued to be the leader in top 10 finishes overall. But after losing the PGA title to Yang Yong-eun, Woods finished the year without a single major win—the first time he had done so since 2004. While his life on the green seemed lackluster, his personal life was in an even more serious tailspin. In late November, reports surfaced about a tryst between Woods and nightclub manager Rachel Uchitel. Both parties denied a relationship, despite photographic evidence that seemed to indicate otherwise. On November 27, as the story gained traction, media outlets announced that Woods had collided into a fire hydrant outside his home at 2:30 in the morning. Reports said that Woods' wife had broken the back window of the golfer's SUV with a golf club in order to get him out of the locked car.

The golfer's injuries were not serious, and he was quickly released. The accident aroused suspicions with fans and the media, who instantly pushed for a statement from Woods. But the golfer remained silent on the matter, and mysteriously dropped out of his charity golf tournament, the Chevron World Challenge. He then announced that he would not be attending any other tournaments in 2009. As the silence grew, so did reports of other Woods mistresses. On December 2, 2009, Woods offered an apology to his fans and family, expressing regret for unnamed "transgressions." But as the mistress count rose to more than a dozen women, with phone evidence to back many claims, Woods was unable to suppress media inquiries into his life. Woods was said to have offered his wife a renegotiation of their prenuptial agreement in order to compel her to stick by him, but reports soon surfaced that Nordgren had purchased a home in Sweden with her sister. Photographers then spotted the former model without her wedding ring. On December 11, 2009, Woods apologized again to fans—this time, admitting to infidelity.

He then announced that he would be taking a hiatus from golf in order to tend to his family. Several days later, he lost his endorsement deal with management company, Accenture, and was suspended from his Gilette endorsement. Other companies, including Nike, Tag Heuer and EA Sports, continue to stand by Woods. Woods made a return to golf in April of 2010, but the golfer was not quite at the top of his game. His first competition at the 2010 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, ended in a fourth place spot for Woods. On May 9, after not making the cut for the Quail Hollow Championship, Woods withdrew from The Players Championship during the fourth round due to a neck injury. Woods made his return to golf four weeks later at The Memorial Tournament, making his worst finish in the tournament since 2002. At the 2010 U.S. Open, Woods finished the tournament in a tie for fourth place. Woods' personal life also seemed to be taking a turn for the worse, as news of a possible divorce settlement hit media outlets.

The rumored $750 million settlement allegedly included properties in Sweden, and the family home in California for Nordegren, in exchange for his wife's permanent silence on Woods' philandering. Reports also said Nordegren retained full physical custody of their 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son, and Woods agreed not to introduce his children to a new woman unless he married her. If the divorce settlement is finalized, it will be one of the largest settlements in history. Tiger Woods - Golfer - Biography.com Tiger Woods Tiger Woods set an amazing pro golf career in motion in 1997, when he became the youngest man and the first African American to win the U.S. Masters. IN THESE GROUPS Famous Western High School Alumni quotes “The greatest thing about tomorrow is, I will be better than I am today...There is no such thing as a setback. The lessons I learn today I will apply tomorrow, and I will be better.” Tiger Woods Tiger Woods - Friendly Game (TV-14; 2:09) Friends of Tiger Woods talk about the tenacity and skill that Tiger Woods shows, even when just playing a "friendly game" of golf.

Synopsis Pro golfer Tiger Woods was born in Cypress, California, in 1975. He won the U.S. Masters at Augusta in 1997 with a record score at age 21, making him the youngest man and the first African American to earn the title. Woods won another 13 majors and was named the PGA Player of the Year 10 times over the next 12 years, but he struggled to regain his top form after personal problems surfaced in 2009. Golf Prodigy Athlete Eldrick Tont Woods, better known as Tiger Woods, was born on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California, the only child of an African-American Army officer father and a Thai mother. When Woods was a child, his father began calling him "Tiger" in honor of a fellow soldier and friend who had the same moniker. Around this same time, Woods learned to play golf. His father, Earl, served as his teacher and mentor. Around the age of 8, Woods had become extremely proficient at the game, even showing off his skills on television shows such as Good Morning America.

Woods studied at Stanford University, and won a number of amateur U.S. golf titles before turning professional in 1996. He shot to fame after winning the U.S. Masters at Augusta in 1997—with a record score of 270—at the age of 21. Woods was the youngest man to earn the title, and the first African-American to accomplish this feat. In his first appearance at the British Open later that year, Woods tied the course record of 64. The next few years brought even more successes, including four U.S. PGA titles, three U.S. Open wins, three Open Championship wins, and three U.S. Masters wins. In 2003, among Woods's five wins were the Buick Invitational and the Western Open. The next year, Woods won only one official PGA Tour championship. While he may have had some challenges on the course, his personal life was running smoothly. Woods married his longtime girlfriend Elin Nordegren, a Swedish model, in October of 2004.

Returning to dominate the sport, he won six championships in 2005 and was voted the PGA Tour Player of Year for the seventh time in nine years. Personal Life Woods experienced a great personal loss in 2006. His father died in May after battling prostate cancer. Woods remarked on his website at the time, "My dad was my best friend and greatest role model, and I will miss him deeply." Despite his grief, Woods returned to golf and won several events, including the PGA Championship and the British Open. The next season was marked by many wins personally and professionally. His wife gave birth to the couple's first child, Sam Alexis Woods, on June 18, 2007. After taking some time off to welcome his daughter, he won the World Golf Championship and the PGA Championship in August 2007. The next month, Woods's winning ways continued, as he garnered the top spot at the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship. He was named Player of the Year by the other participants in the PGA Tour and won his eighth Arnold Palmer Award for being the lead money earner. Woods won the U.S.

Open on June 16, 2008, in a 19-hole playoff, overcoming sporadic pain in his left knee from arthroscopic surgery performed on April 15. Woods shot a par 4 on the first and only hole of sudden death while American Rocco Mediate, 45, settled for a bogey. The sudden death duel at Torrey Pines in San Diego followed an 18-hole playoff, which saw the two finish at par. In that playoff, Woods led Mediate by three shots after the first 10 holes. Mediate then birdied three of the next five holes and took the lead. But on the final hole, Woods birdied while Mediate shot par, forcing the sudden death playoff. "I think this is probably the best ever," Woods said. "All things considered, I don't know how I ended up in this position, to be honest with you." The victory gave Woods his third U.S. Open championship and 14th major title, just four behind the all-time record held by Jack Nicklaus. Inury and Comeback Two days later, Woods announced he would miss the rest of the season because his left knee required more reconstructive surgery.

He also revealed he had suffered a double stress fracture in his left tibia two weeks before the U.S. Open tournament, ignoring doctors' advice to take six weeks off to let it heal. Woods and his wife announced September 2, 2008, that they were expecting their second child in late winter. "Elin is feeling great and we are both thrilled," Woods said on his website. "While my injury has been disappointing and frustrating, it has allowed me to spend a lot of time watching Sam grow. I can't begin to tell you how rewarding it is being a dad and spending time with her and Elin." The couple welcomed baby boy Charlie Axel Woods on February 8, 2009. On February 25, 2009, Woods returned to the green in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, Arizona. Woods played against South African golfer Tim Clark, losing 4 to 2 in his first tournament since his injury. In June of 2009, Woods competed again in the U.S. Open. After putting a four-over-par in the first round, Woods quickly fell out of contention for the win.

Although Woods's comeback had not been as auspicious as he'd hoped, he remained No. 1 in the world golf rankings, and continued to be the leader in Top 10 finishes overall. But after losing the PGA title to Yang Yong-eun, Woods finished the year without a single major win—the first time he had done so since 2004. Marriage Under the Spotlight While his life on the green seemed lackluster, his personal life was in an even more serious tailspin. In late November, reports surfaced about a tryst between Woods and nightclub manager Rachel Uchitel. Both parties denied a relationship, despite photographic evidence that seemed to indicate otherwise. On November 27, as the story gained traction, media outlets announced that Woods had collided into a fire hydrant outside his home at 2:30 in the morning. Reports said that Woods's wife had broken the back window of the golfer's SUV with a golf club in order to get him out of the locked car. The golfer's injuries were not serious, and he was quickly released. The accident aroused suspicions with fans and the media, who instantly pushed for a statement from Woods.

But the golfer remained silent on the matter, and mysteriously dropped out of his charity golf tournament, the Chevron World Challenge. He then announced that he would not be attending any other tournaments in 2009. As the silence grew, so did reports of other Woods mistresses. On December 2, 2009, Woods offered an apology to his fans and family, expressing regret for unnamed "transgressions." But as the mistress count rose to more than a dozen women, with phone evidence to back many claims, Woods was unable to suppress media inquiries into his life. Woods was said to have offered his wife a renegotiation of their prenuptial agreement in order to compel her to stick by him, but reports soon surfaced that Nordgren had purchased a home in Sweden with her sister. Photographers then spotted the former model without her wedding ring. Comeback On December 11, 2009, Woods apologized again to fans—this time, admitting to infidelity. He then announced that he would be taking a hiatus from golf in order to tend to his family. Several days later, he lost his endorsement deal with the management company Accenture, and was suspended from his Gillette endorsement.

Other companies, including Nike, Tag Heuer and EA Sports, continued to stand by Woods. Woods made a return to golf in April of 2010, but the golfer was not quite at the top of his game. His first competition at the 2010 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, resulted in a fourth place finish. On May 9, after missing the cut for the Quail Hollow Championship, Woods withdrew from the Players Championship during the fourth round due to a neck injury. Woods made his return to golf four weeks later at the Memorial Tournament, but delivered his worst performance in the tournament since 2002. At the 2010 U.S. Open, Woods finished in a tie for fourth place. Woods's personal life also seemed to be taking a turn for the worse, as news of a possible divorce settlement hit media outlets. The rumored $750 million settlement allegedly included properties in Sweden, and the family home in California for Nordegren, in exchange for his wife's permanent silence on Woods's philandering.

Reports also said Nordegren retained full physical custody of their 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son, and Woods agreed not to introduce his children to a new woman unless he married her. After years of turmoil, Woods finally got his golf game clicking again in 2012. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March for his first PGA Tour victory since 2009. That summer, he topped the field at the AT&T National to surpass Nicklaus with career victory No. 74, leaving him eight behind the record of 82 held by Sam Snead. In March 2013, the 37-year-old Woods confirmed to media outlets that he was dating 28-year-old Lindsey Vonn, a professional alpine ski racer from Minnesota and four-time World Cup winner. Vonn was previously married to Thomas Vonn, a former ski racer; the couple separated in 2011, after four years of marriage, and officially divorced in January 2012. The 2013 season was a triumphant one for Woods.

He won five tournaments, including the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Farmers Insurance Open and the Players Championship, and was named the PGA Tour Player of the Year for the 11th time. However, just as Woods appeared primed to resume his march toward Nicklaus's record of 18 major championships, injuries flared up to derail his performance. The golfer underwent back surgery in March 2014, and struggled after returning to competitive play. The following year, he appeared in two early tournaments before taking a break to let a sore back heal and work on his game. Woods returned in time to tee off at the Masters in April, finishing a solid 5-under par to claim a tie for 17th place. A few weeks later, he announced the end of his relationship with Vonn, noting that their "hectic" schedules kept them from spending time together. Videos Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

Citation Information Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is born | World History Project Dec 30 1975 Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is born Woods was born in Cypress, California to Earl (1932-2006) and Kultida (Tida) Woods (1944). He is the only child of their marriage but has two half-brothers, Earl Jr. (born 1955) and Kevin (born 1957), and one half-sister, Royce (born 1958) from the 18-year marriage of Earl Woods and his first wife, Barbara Woods Gray. Earl, a retired United States Army lieutenant colonel and Vietnam War veteran, was of mixed African American (50 percent), Chinese (25 percent) and Native American (25 percent) ancestry. Kultida (née Punsawad), originally from Thailand, is of mixed Thai (50 percent), Chinese (25 percent), and Dutch (25 percent) ancestry. This makes Woods himself one-quarter Chinese, one-quarter Thai, one-quarter African American, one-eighth Native American, and one-eighth Dutch.

He refers to his ethnic make-up as “Cablinasian” (a syllabic abbreviation he coined from Caucasian, Black, (American) Indian, and Asian). At birth, Woods was given "Eldrick" and "Tont" as first and middle names. His middle name, Tont, is a traditional Thai name. He got his nickname from a Vietnamese soldier friend of his father, Vuong Dang Phong, to whom his father had also given the "Tiger" nickname. He became generally known by that name and by the time he had achieved national prominence in junior and amateur golf, he was simply known as "Tiger" Woods. He grew up in Orange County, California and graduated from Western High School in Anaheim in 1994. Source: Wikipedia Added by: Jabril Faraj Related Topics Who is Tiger Woods dating?

Tiger Woods girlfriend, wife has had encounters with Lindsey Vonn (2012 - 2015), Rachel Uchitel (2009), Raychel Coudriet (2009), Emma Rotherham (2008), Joslyn James (2008), Jaimee Grubbs (2007 - 2009), Devon James (2006), Loredana Jolie (2006), Holly Sampson (2004) and Bridgette Kerkove . He is rumoured to have hooked up with Lara Dutta (2001) and LeAnn Rimes (2001). About Tiger Woods is a 40 year old American Golfer. Born Eldrick Tont Woods on 30th December, 1975 in Long Beach, California, USA and educated at Western High School, Anaheim, CA, he is famous for Currently the World No. 1. His zodiac sign is Capricorn. Tiger Woods is a member of the following lists: African-American Buddhists , Sportspeople from Anaheim, California and American people of Dutch-Indonesian descent .

Contribute Help us build our profile of Tiger Woods! Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Relationship Statistics Golfers America - Golf News, Watch Live, Golf Equipment, Clubs, Reviews Golfers America Play Online Bio of Tiger Woods. Birth info, achievements, tournament wins, movies, friends, news and everything about tiger Woods. This bio will be expanded. Birth Name: Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods Birth: December 30th, 1975 in Cypress, California Height: 6″1′ – 1.83 m Weight: Approximately around 185 lb – 85 kg Family: Tiger was born to Earl and Kultida Woods. Earl was a US [ Read More ] What is Tiger Woods' Middle Name" Question: Tiger Woods Middle Name: What Is It? Answer: Tiger Woods' middle name is "Tont": Eldrick (Tiger) Tont Woods. Woods doesn't list his middle name on his official Web site, and "Tont" was only widely revealed as his middle name when legal documents relating to his divorce from Elin Nordegren became public.

"Tont," according to various sources on the Web, is a traditional Thai name. Woods' mother, Kultida , is from Thailand. The Wikipedia page about Woods displays the name written in Thai script. If you take those script characters and plug them into Google Translate, an English translation of "beginning" is what you get. Eldrick Tont Woods | Latest Eldrick Tont Woods by JUSTIN BROWN 12.16.09 “He was just too good to be true,” was my first thought after hearing of Eldrick’s “transgressions.” Eldrick Tont Woods was a man, an athlete, who was so campaigned and endorsed as the consistent front-runner and face of an entire sport for the past 15 years. He has taken the game of golf and its profits to new heights, breaking - not just crossing - barriers of age and race along the way. The similarities between athletes and celebs are in such abundance that the two are synonymous. The money, the fame, and the star power are shared attributes between the two groups. This goes along with the obsession of the image these athletes and entertainers portray. Image is everything when it comes to the likeability and marketability of a professional athlete.

Pro athletes like Tiger Woods, Peyton Manning and Derek Jeter are among the most recognizable faces in the world, let alone the sports community. Unfortunately, professional athletes also inherit dark side of the business comes with it. Unwanted publicity and exposure of private lives haunt athletes and entertainers everywhere they go. Christopher “Biggie Smalls” Wallace said it best when he exclaimed that more money brings more problems. I’m certain that after being named the first professional athlete to be a billionaire this past summer, as reported by Forbes.com, Eldrick Tont Woods couldn’t agree more with that statement. Woods’ image is and always has been controversial within the African-American community. After self-proclaiming himself a “Cablinasian” [Caucasian, Black, American-Indian and Asian] in 1997, Eldrick woods never really connected with the African-American community despite his history making, barrier breaking appearance at the Masters in Augusta Georgia. Conversely, the African-American community was never able to fully embrace Woods either. Eldrick was always quick to words in order to defend his Cablinasian ancestry, and while not totally denying his blackness, he never fully embraced it.

A black man is dominating a sport where the main participants are white. That’s the initial perception of Eldrick Tont Woods. Woods, however, made it clear that his African-American ancestry is only part of who he is. The alienation that Eldrick Woods is experiencing from the African-American community goes hand in hand with the sport that alienates African-Americans all together. Golf is an elitist sport. From youth, it takes time and money, the latter of which is a deficiency in the black community, to invest in training and lessons. That economic barrier lends itself to a disadvantage for young African-Americans wanting to get involved. Unlike Michael Jordan and basketball, young children who look up to Eldrick cannot just run outside and play golf. It just doesn’t happen that way. Not that this is any fault of Woods, but his nonchalant attitude towards racial relations in golf do not offer any assistance in the furthering of participation in golf for young blacks. What’s alarming is Eldrick’s persistence to remain passive in racial relations in golf even when he’s in the center of it. “Lynch him in the back alley.” Remember those words spoken of as the only way to stop Eldrick on the golf course.

Golf is a seemingly impenetrable bubble in which African-Americans aren’t readily embraced. The golf community that thrives off of the very existence of Eldrick Tont Woods suggests that lynching him is even an option. Eldrick just took his big expensive broom and big ol’ smile and swept that right under the rug, ignoring the tension that exists between part of his own ancestry and the very sport by which he makes his living. Eldrick is identified as black in an arena where blacks don’t really exist. Yet, Woods downplays the issues surrounding his blackness when they do arise. In the same way, Woods may be distancing himself from the female community. Infidelity is a constant theme among upper tier professional athletes, and often costs them sponsorships, their families, and sometimes may even cost them their freedom in alleged rape cases. Just ask Kobe Bryant, something like this will not be easy to come back from. With sponsors pulling out left and right, Eldrick Woods will certainly have his work cut out for him upon his return to golf. With women being the most active influential consumers in this society, Woods will have to reshape and rebuild his image. No corporation will associate itself with an appeared womanizing infidel.

The infidelity and family issues of Eldrick Tont Woods will ignite discussion on the topic of the impact of his legacy and career. Eldrick’s racial identification as Cablinasian will forever be a topic of much controversy, considering the racially oriented tension during his career. Woods’ image will forever be tainted by his personal issues off the golf course, issues that are magnified in the African-American community from which he has essentially alienated himself. Still, his accomplishments as a golfer regardless of his racial ancestry are outstanding. Tiger Woods - Biography - IMDb Tiger Woods Biography Showing all 64 items Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (1) | Trade Mark (1) | Trivia (49) | Personal Quotes (8) Overview (4) 6' (1.83 m) Mini Bio (1) At age 21, Tiger Woods became the youngest Masters champ and the first golfer since Jerry Pate in 1976 to win in the first major he played. In 1997, Woods took the lead at the Augusta golf classic and then put on a golf clinic never seen before.

He fired a 3-under-par 69 and broke the tournament 72-hole record with an unbelievable 18-under 270. The 12-stroke margin of victory was the largest in Masters history. Woods was chosen as the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and ESPY Male Athlete of the Year in 1997. He was also one of the most accomplished amateur golfers in history, winning six USGA national championships, an NCAA title during his two years at Stanford University, and an unprecedented three consecutive U.S. Amateur Championships. He finished first on the PGA Tour five times in 1999. More importantly, Woods opened wide a door of society in becoming the first African American, as well as the first Asian American, to win a major. Woods was granted dual citizenship by the Thai government (his mother, Kultida, is of half Thai and one quarter Chinese, descent) in 1997 prior to playing in the Asian Honda Classic. Woods has captured the hearts and imaginations of even non-golf fans around the world. Affable and good looking, he became an international star and a prime endorser of golfing equipment and apparel.

Born Eldrick Woods on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California, his distinctive nickname "Tiger" came from his father Earl's Green Beret army past. "Tiger" had been the moniker of a South Vietnamese officer who saved Earl's life on several occasions. As a child, Woods was one of junior golf's most accomplished players. He putted against Bob Hope on The Mike Douglas Show (1961) at the improbable age of 2, shot 48 for nine holes at age 3, and was featured in "Golf Digest" at age 5. Woods won several major youth titles in southern California. He won three straight U.S. Amateur titles in 1994, 1995 and 1996 after winning three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He turned professional in the summer of 1996, and the game of golf hasn't been the same since. Sense of humor intact, Woods once observed, "Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men.

Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black pimps". - IMDb Mini Biography By: Vicki McClure Davidson Spouse (1) ( 5 October 2004 - 23 August 2010) (divorced) (2 children) Trade Mark (1) During the final round (which is usually on Sundays) he almost always wears a red Nike t-shirt and a black Nike baseball cap Trivia (49) Attended Stanford University but left before graduating in order to pursue his golfing career. Nicknamed Tiger after a Vietnamese soldier and friend of his father, Vuong Dang Phong, to whom his father had also given that nickname. His father, Earl Woods , was a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. His mother, Kultida Woods , is a native of Thailand. Tiger's father was born in Manhattan, Kansas, to African-American parents, Miles Woods and Maude Carter. Tiger's maternal grandfather was Thai, while Tiger's maternal grandmother had a Dutch father and a Chinese mother.

Named Golf Digest Player of the Year (1991 and 1992), Golf World Player of the Year (1992 and 1993), Golfweek National Amateur of the Year (1992), Golf World Man of the Year (1994), and Fred Haskins and Jack Nicklaus College Player of the Year awards (1996.) Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1996 and 2000, making him the first athlete to win the award twice. 6/15/97: Became the youngest #1 golfer ever at the age of 21 years and 24 weeks in his 42nd week as a professional. Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2006. An only child, although Earl had children from a previous marriage. Tiger Woods Foundation promotes parental responsibility and involvement in the lives of children. 1999: Underwent laser eye surgery and now endorses TLC Laser Eye Centers. His nickname on the Stanford golf team was Urkel.

His mother made the Tiger club cover in his bag with the words "Love from Mom" in Thai stitched on it. Wears a red shirt on the final day of every tournament because his mother feels that it is a "power color" for him. Has won at least one World Golf Championships event every year since 1999 (54% winning rate). 2000: Signed a five-year, $100-million endorsement contract with Nike. As of 5/03 it remains the largest endorsement deal ever signed by an athlete. Has his own line of golf watches. Won the American Express Championship six times between 1999 and 2007. Enjoys working out, boating, water sports, fishing and car racing. October 2004: Married long-time girlfriend, Swedish model Elin Nordegren . The popular Nike TV commercial with him doing the "ball trick" was basically his creation. It was a routine Tiger would do at times when he was hitting balls or practicing just to goof off. Nike took the idea and turned it into an advertisement. No special effects or computer work was used, Tiger did the trick completely on his own, all in one take.

Next-door neighbor in Florida of Mark O'Mera , another professional golfer and a fellow Masters champion like Woods. Tiger and Mark have a close friendship. Woods also has a close friendship with golfing legend Jack Nicklaus , a man who has dubbed Woods "the greatest golfer of all time.". Woods graduated from Western High School (Anaheim, Ca) in 1994 at age 18, and was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" among the graduating class. 7/17/05: "Tiger Tames Augusta National" (becoming the first black winner of the Masters golf tournament on 13 April 1997) was ranked #2 in TV Guide's list of the "25 Most Awesome Sports Moments (of the last 15 years)". 2006: Was #5 on the annual Forbes magazine Celebrity 100 list. July 2006: At the age of 30, he won his third British Open, his 11th Major Championship. The win moved him to second place on the all-time major championship list (tied with Walter Hagen ) and seven behind Jack Nicklaus , who has the record at 18.

Good friends with fellow golfer Darren Clarke . Tiger and his wife, Elin Nordegren , are expecting their first child in the summer of 2007. Has two half-brothers, Earl Jr. and Kevin, and a half-sister, Royce. January 2006: Purchased a $39-million property in Jupiter, FL, which became his primary residence. Good friends with tennis superstar Roger Federer and New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter . 6/18/07: Tiger and Elin Nordegren became the parents of a girl, Sam Alexis Woods, in Orlando, FL. In 2006, he donated $9,500,000 to the Tiger Woods Learning Center, Earl D.Woods Sr. Scholarship Fund, and other Tiger Woods Foundation programs. In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his 2006 earnings to be $100 million, largely the result of a lucrative advertising deal with Nike, Buick, and other brands. In 2004, it was reported that he was worth an estimated $295 million.

Ranked #2 in the 2008 Forbes The Celebrity 100 list. Announced that he and his wife, Elin Nordegren , are expecting their second child in late winter [September 2, 2008]. Son, Charlie Axel, born February 8, 2009. Has said that Caddyshack (1980) is one of his all time favorite movies. He even played Bill Murray 's character "Carl Spackler" in a American Express TV commercial. Coached from ages 4-10 by Rudy Duran . High school boyfriend of Dina Parr . He broke up with her during his sophomore year at Stanford. California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Golf Champion 1991, 1993, 1994. He had starred for the high school's golf team under coach Don Crosby. His ex-wife Elin, was awarded $100 million following their divorce in 2010. After the Tiger Woods infidelity scandal in 2010, several companies re-evaluated their relationships with him.

Companies such as Accenture, Gatorade, AT&T and General Motors completely ended their sponsorship deals, while Gillette suspended advertisements featuring Woods. TAG Heuer officially ended their deal with Woods when his contract expired in August 2011. A December 2009 study estimated that the shareholder loss caused by Woods' affairs to be between $5 billion and $12 billion. (October 5) Amid armed security guards, married fiancée Elin Nordegren in a sunset ceremony at the Barbados resort Sandy Lane before approximately 200 family and friends. [2004] Proposes to Swedish girlfriend Elin Nordegren . [November 2003] Won his 11th Major Championship and third British Open. [July 2006] Returns to golf at The Masters after a hiatus from the sport lasting nearly five months [April 2010]

Question: Which US golfer’s first names are Eldrick Tont?
Answer: Tiger Woods